Jammu, January 19 (Scoop News) – Displaced Kashmiri Pandits who were forced to fled from Kashmir valley to Jammu and other states in early nineties soon after the outbreak of militancy in Kashmir observed today as their 21th "holocaust day".
The Joint Forum of Kashmiri Pandit organizations on held a massive protest demonstration today on the occasion of 21st Holocaust Day outside the Raj Bhawan, Jammu . The demonstrators carried placards and raised slogans remindful of ethnic cleansing and mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990.
The activists also raised slogans against terrorism and apathetic attitude of the government against the displaced community.
All prominent leaders of the KP organizations participated in the programme. They included Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, President, Panun Kashmir, H.L.Chatta, General Secretary, ASKPC, D.N.Kissu, Chairman, NCMCC, R.K.Raina, Senior Vice President, ASKPC, Virender Raina, Joint Forum Spokesperson, Chunilal Kaul, Purkhoo camp, T.N.Kaul, Muthi camp and P.L.Swadeshi.
Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, President,Panun Kashmir on the occasion said that the Kashmiri Pandits cannot forget the facts of history and the horrors that they were forced to undergo in the Kashmir valley in 1989-90 and thereafter.He said It was on the same day in 1990, twenty one years ago, that the Kashmiri Hindus were given ultimatum to leave Kashmir or get killed.It is the mission of our generation to pass on the message of our history to the next generation,Ashwani said.
H.L.Chatta, General Secretary, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference in his speech said that the Kashmiri Pandit community has been the victim of man made catastrophe in the valley and mere ‘economic or employment packages’ cannot pave way for our resettlement in the valley. We fully support the programme of national flag hoisting at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on 26th January 2011. Those who oppose Tricolour hoisting in Kashmir under one pretext or the other should be booked under law of the land.
D.N.Kissu, Chairman, Non-camp Migrant Coordination Committee raised issues of survival. Even after twenty one years of exile, the Kashmiri Pandits continue to live in pathetic conditions in camp and non-camp areas.
Meanwhile a public meeting was also organized by Panun Kashmir today in Jammu to remember the events of genocide and exodus of Kashmiri Pandit community.
Dr. Agnishekhar convener Panun Kashmir speaking on the occasion said that process of genocide and exodus was set in motion for K.P community with the advent and
establishment of Islamic rule in Kashmir.
He said that the final impetus to this horrifying and heart-wrenching process of ethnic cleansing of KP community from Kashmir was completed in 1989.
Agnishekhar said that previous events of genocide and exodus have taken place in last 700 years of history when two important edifices of modern world, democracy and human rights had not evolved in the world, but that does not justify the extermination and gross injustice community has met. But community was victim of genocide and exodus in world’s largest democracy and when world strongly believed in upholding human rights of the people. The govt. of the day not even bothers to take cognizance of its own institutions like N.H.R.C who acknowledged that “acts akin to genocide have occurred with KP community.
He also decried present day government’s tactics of trivializing the issue of genocide and exodus of community by adopting blackmailing tactics of linking PM’s employment package with return to valley.
Vijay Bhat President Panun Kashmir said that the forces responsible for holocaust have devised new ways of ‘Final solution’ as was done in case of Jews, by exposing the seed stock of Kashmiri Pandit community to extermination in the garb of forced employment in valley.
The meeting culminated with two minutes silence in memory of those people who have been victims of holocaust all over the world.
Dr. Khema kaul of KASHMIRA VAHINI said that the holocaust, exodus and genocide has left a brutalizing effect on the psyche of KP women and they should not forget the insult and trauma which was inflicted on them during holocaust as it will serve to keep our exile consciousness intact and ultimately serve the KP community to exist for centuries to come.
Sunita Santoshi Gen. Secy. KASHMIRA in her address appealed to KP women worldwide to address the issues of cultural and social rejuvenation for infusing the fresh life into community Rama Shah chair person KV impressed upon the community especially KP Women in particular to act a vanguard of Kashmiri Pandit heritage and culture. She reminded the community that Kashmira Vahini will pursue vigorously the agenda of restoration of Geo-political rights of Kashmiri Pandit community.
Sudesha Kaul chief area co-ordinator KV appealed to conscious of people of India to intervene in saving the life and honour of newly employed KP women who stand exposed to impending new holocaust. She also appealed to state of India to impress upon state govt. to desist from blackmailing tactics and place all female candidates under PM’s package in various migrant institutions and cells at Jammu.
The meeting among others was attended by Vijaya Saproo, Nirmala, Gayatri Hashia, Vijay Khoda, Sushma Reshi, Meenakshi Sidha, Neelam Kaul, Dolly and Phoola Kaul.